GE-Baker Hughes tie-up the latest in a year of big deals
— London-based Shire PLC's $32 billion purchase of Illinois-based Baxalta was announced in January and completed in June, merging two big makers of drugs used to treat rare diseases.
— Though smaller than many other deals, Verizon's July agreement to buy Yahoo's core businesses for $4.8 billion was notable for uniting pioneer internet brands AOL and Yahoo under the control of a phone company.